Conservative leader Constantine Mitsotakis claimed victory early today in national elections, saying he will form a majority government to break a sapping political stalemate that has left Greece perilously adrift. Mitsotakis' right-of-center New Democracy Party easily outdistanced Socialist and Communist opponents in voting Sunday. However, it lacked an assured majority in the 300-seat Parliament when Mitsotakis addressed a 4 a.m. press conference.

Greece's Socialist Prime Minister Costas Simitis won his first major political gamble, sweeping to victory over opposition conservatives in early national elections. Simitis' win gives him control over the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, a free hand to name a Cabinet and a four-year mandate to implement his reform policies. It was a personal triumph for Simitis, 60, who confidently called the vote only to see his once-strong lead shrink.

Greek and U.S. negotiators ended their 16th round of talks on the future of American military bases in Greece with "little progress toward a new accord," a government spokesman said Friday. The negotiators, who began the most recent round of talks Monday, are trying to reach a comprehensive defense and economic cooperation pact that would determine the future of four major U.S. military bases and 20 smaller installations. Greek government spokesman Sotiris Kostopoulos said the two sides "examined the preamble and various aspects of a possible agreement, but there was no notable progress."

Drama in a historic vote of censure in the small hours of the morning. Pathos at a funeral in the afternoon rain. Such were the political signposts Thursday in a country on hold. Greece, the divided and unstable kin of a united and powerful Europe, is adrift, searching for a new course. An improbable government of conservatives and Communists, formed after no-winner June elections, announced Thursday that, as planned, it will resign next week to clear the way for new elections Nov. 5.

A country searching in economic distress for a new government failed again to find one Sunday when Greek national elections solidified a left-right stalemate. Nearly complete returns in parliamentary voting early today mirrored results of an inconclusive June election in which conservatives wrested a plurality from socialist foes but fell tantalizingly short of the majority needed to form a one-party government.

Longtime rivals Constantine Mitsotakis and Andreas Papandreou face off in deja vu national elections Sunday in which Greek voters will decide whether to hew to painful free market economics or to restore free-spending socialism.

Prime Minister Xenophon Zolotas resigned after the three main political parties supporting him withdrew their ministers from his Cabinet, officials said. The conservative New Democracy party, the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement and the Communist-led Alliance of the Left said they will support Zolotas through April 8 elections.

Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou named a new Cabinet on Friday in an apparent attempt to purge his Socialist government of ministers linked to an embezzlement scandal three months before parliamentary elections. Under pressure from the conservative opposition within his ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement, or PASOK, and parties of the far left to resign over the four-month-old scandal involving a fugitive Greek banker, Papandreou asked members of his Cabinet to step down Thursday.

The White House issued a statement Sunday congratulating Greece on its elections and urging new leaders to form a coalition in time to stave off further economic turmoil. "We hope this election will lead quickly to the formation of a new government that can make timely progress on the economic challenges facing the Greek people," Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement issued shortly after the pro-Europe New Democracy party claimed victory. The win was expected to be welcome news for foreign leaders who have been pushing Greeks to vote to remain in the Eurozone.

WASHINGTON - Leaders of the world's biggest economies are facing pressure to take decisive action to quell the Eurozone crisis at a summit meeting starting Monday, even as they tamp down expectations and brace for Greece to cause more turmoil. Amid widespread anxiety over the Greek parliamentary vote Sunday, the Group of 20 leaders, representing nations that account for nearly 90% of the world economy, will gather for a two-day summit in Los Cabos, Mexico. Expectations are about as low as ever for aG-20 summit.